Importance

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Abstract

A stator of a steering angle sensor is fixed to a steering column through a combination switch case and a stationary bracket, and a rotor of the sensor is rotatably fitted over a steering shaft. A locking collar is slidably but nonrotatably connected to the rotor. The locking collar and the stator are respectively provided with a locking groove and a locking tooth which engage each other to lock the rotor in a predetermined rotational alignment. When the steering angle sensor is not mounted to a vehicle, the locking groove and the locking tooth are brought into engagement with each other by a locking spring to lock the rotor. When a steering wheel is mounted to the steering shaft in a predetermined rotational neutral position of the steering shaft, a clamping pressure caused by the mounting causes the locking collar to be moved to a lockreleasing position or disengage position and the rotor is connected to the steering shaft. In this manner, the rotational neutral position of the rotor in the steering angle sensor can be easily and accurately aligned with the rotational neutral position of the steering shaft so that a signal corresponding to a rotational angle of the steering shaft from the rotational neutral position, i.e., corresponding to a steering angle, can be detected by a pickup of the stator.

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First Claim